The present invention relates to the production of avian induced pluripotent stem cells from non-pluripotent somatic cells, including embryonic fibroblasts and adult somatic cells. In this method, avian (including quail or chicken) somatic cells are reprogrammed into a state closely resembling embryonic stem cells including the expression of key stem cell markers alkaline phosphatase, etc. by transfecting/transducing the non-stem cells with genes (preferably using a non-integrating vector as otherwise described herein or alternatively an integrating vector, such a lentiviral vector, retroviral vector or inducible lentiviral vector, among others) which express at least nanog, Lin28 and cMyc. In preferred aspects of the invention, the transfected/transduced vectors express nanog, Lig28, cMyc, Oct 4 (POU5F1 or PouV), SOX2 and KLF4. The induced stem cells which are produced contribute to all 3 germ layers, the trophectoderm and in certain aspects, the gonad in chimeric offspring.

The present invention relates to the production of avian induced pluripotent stem cells from non-pluripotent somatic cells, including embryonic fibroblasts and adult somatic cells. In this method, avian (including quail or chicken) somatic cells are reprogrammed into a state closely resembling embryonic stem cells including the expression of key stem cell markers alkaline phosphatase, etc. by transfecting/transducing the non-stem cells with genes (preferably using a non-integrating vector as otherwise described herein or alternatively an integrating vector, such a lentiviral vector, retroviral vector or inducible lentiviral vector, among others) which express at least nanog, Lin28 and cMyc. In preferred aspects of the invention, the transfected/transduced vectors express nanog, Lig28, cMyc, Oct 4 (POU5F1 or PouV), SOX2 and KLF4. The induced stem cells which are produced contribute to all 3 germ layers, the trophectoderm and in certain aspects, the gonad in chimeric offspring.

Described herein are chimeric Newcastle disease viruses comprising a packaged genome comprising a transgene encoding interleukin-12. The chimeric Newcastle disease viruses and compositions thereof are useful in combination with an antagonist of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or a ligand thereof in the treatment of cancer. In particular, described herein are methods for treating cancer comprising administering the chimeric Newcastle disease viruses in combination with an antagonist of PD-1 or a ligand thereof, wherein the chimeric Newcastle disease virus comprises a packaged genome comprising a transgene encoding interleukin-12.

The present invention relates to the production of avian induced pluripotent stem cells from non-pluripotent somatic cells, including embryonic fibroblasts and adult somatic cells. In this method, avian (including quail or chicken) somatic cells are reprogrammed into a state closely resembling embryonic stem cells including the expression of key stem cell markers alkaline phosphatase, etc. by transfecting/transducing the non-stem cells with genes (preferably using a non-integrating vector as otherwise described herein or alternatively an integrating vector, such a lentiviral vector, retroviral vector or inducible lentiviral vector, among others) which express at least nanog, Lin28 and cMyc. In preferred aspects of the invention, the transfected/transduced vectors express nanog, Lig28, cMyc, Oct 4 (POU5F1 or PouV), SOX2 and KLF4. The induced stem cells which are produced contribute to all 3 germ layers, the trophectoderm and in certain aspects, the gonad in chimeric offspring.

Described herein are chimeric Newcastle disease viruses comprising a packaged genome comprising a transgene encoding interleukin-12. The chimeric Newcastle disease viruses and compositions thereof are useful in combination with an antagonist of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or a ligand thereof in the treatment of cancer. In particular, described herein are methods for treating cancer comprising administering the chimeric Newcastle disease viruses in combination with an antagonist of PD-1 or a ligand thereof, wherein the chimeric Newcastle disease virus comprises a packaged genome comprising a transgene encoding interleukin-12.

The present disclosure proposes a preparation method of a vesicle formed by an erythrocyte membrane encapsulating Newcastle disease virus, including: mixing a compacted erythrocyte solution, a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution, and Newcastle disease virus (NDV); centrifuging a resulting mixture of erythrocytes added with NDV; and resuspending and precipitating the centrifuged mixture with a PBS solution to obtain the vesicle formed by the erythrocyte membrane encapsulating Newcastle disease virus.